Chippa's winless streak continues

CHIPPA United held Platinum Stars to a goalless draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium last night.

It is a second successive 0-0 draw for Dikwena, while the Chilli Boys' winless streak has been extended to four league games.

Chances were few and far between in the first half, but Stars had two good opportunities which they wasted.

The first arrived for Tintswalo Tshabalala in the 11th minute when he was beautifully teed up inside the penalty area, but he blazed a left-footed shot high over the target.

Just before the half-hour mark, Mahlatsi Makudubela did great work down the left flank before chipping a teasing cross for Mogakolodi Ngele, who headed an effort back across goal that went wide of Mbongeni Mzimela's right-hand post.

Chippa's only notable moment in attack in the first half was a free-kick from Thamsanqa Sangweni that was comfortably saved by Kabelo Dambe, but they created two great chances in the second stanza.

Both went the way of Mhlengi Cele, who was twice perfectly teed up by crosses from George Akpabio. On the first occasion he was denied at close range by Dambe, while the second he inexplicably headed wide of the target.

The Chilli Boys were just inches away from opening the scoring in the 70th minute – a beautifully struck free-kick from Sangweni had the beating of Dambe, but not the crossbar, leaving the visitors frustrated once again.

Stars hit the crossbar in the 83rd minute through Makudubela, who latched onto a poor punch from Mzimela before lobbing the ball goalwards, only to be denied by the woodwork.

And the hosts were unlucky to be denied a winning goal in injury time when Eleazar Rodgers's header from a corner kick was cleared off the line by Manti Moholo – television replays suggested the ball had crossed the line.

Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits captain Thulani Hlatshwayo saved his dull clash against SuperSport United with a 74th-minute winner and sent the Clever Boys back to second place on the Absa Premiership table.

There was very little separating the two sides until defender Hlatshwayo rose high to stick one past substitute goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi.

It was a loss of concentration from the SuperSport defence, having just seen a clear opportunity to take the lead wasted by striker Prince Nxumalo.

After Wits won possession, Hlatshwayo launched forward and was rewarded for his appetite for goal.

It was difficult to see where the winning strike would come from, with both sides cautious and looking as if they would be happy to settle for a share of the spoils.

But maybe it was only fair that Wits were the victorious team. They had a bit more fight in them and fluffed a couple of chances to break the deadlock early.

The Clever Boys also had the lion's share of the possession, making this a one-sided affair.

SuperSport remain winless since clinching the Telkom Knockout cup on November 29.